Abbott stumps to rev up GOP women for 2014

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for governor, speaks at the luncheon of Texas Federation of Republican Women at the Grand Hyatt, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, left, applauds as he is introduced.

Photo By BOB OWEN/San Antonio Express-News

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, left, the Republican candidate for governor, smiles at his daughter Audrey Abbott after she introduces him at the luncheon of Texas Federation of Republican Women at the Grand Hyatt, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo By BOB OWEN/San Antonio Express-News

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for governor, speaks at the luncheon of Texas Federation of Republican Women at the Grand Hyatt, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo By BOB OWEN/San Antonio Express-News

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for governor, speaks at the luncheon of Texas Federation of Republican Women at the Grand Hyatt, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo By Photos by Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News

Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison was among the female GOP luminaries there for Attorney General Greg Abbott's speech to the Texas Federation of Republican Women.

Abbott challenged the group to help make sure the state continues to be a “red,” or Republican, state.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for governor, speaks at the luncheon of Texas Federation of Republican Women at the Grand Hyatt, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

Photo By San Antonio Express-News

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, left, the Republican candidate for governor, smiles at his daughter Audrey Abbott after she introduces him at the luncheon of Texas Federation of Republican Women at the Grand Hyatt, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

It was a mostly standard stump speech for GOP gubernatorial hopeful Greg Abbott on Friday, mixing criticism of President Barack Obama's policies with self-praise for his actions as Texas attorney general to protect the unborn and promote job creation.

But with an audience of 800 GOP activists at the Texas Federation of Republican Women biennial convention in San Antonio, Abbott tailored his comments for whom he called the state's “most powerful women.” He challenged the group, which performed 1 million volunteer hours in the past year, to outshine Democrats who'll be working for their 2014 gubernatorial hopeful, state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth.

“People who work with President Barack Obama are sending operatives to the Lone Star State for the purpose of turning Texas blue (Democratic),” Abbott said, drawing mild boos and hisses from the crowd at the Grand Hyatt.

“Well, I can tell from your voices that you have a message for him ... that Republican women beat paid opportunists every single time,” he said.

The remark apparently referred to Battleground Texas, which has mobilized paid and unpaid Democratic supporters to stimulate voter registration and turnout for the 2014 elections.

In the crowd were several female GOP luminaries, including former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Comptroller Susan Combs. Joining them were Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston and George P. Bush, who is running for land commissioner.

Federation leaders emphasized they don't endorse candidates but welcomed elected officials and candidates for events including workshops and forums. San Antonio Councilwoman Elisa Chan, who resigned effective Friday to seek the GOP nomination for the Texas Senate in District 25, was part of a panel that discussed “inclusion” in 2014 elections. Members discussed tax policy and the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and Hutchison signed copies of her book, “Unflinching Courage, Pioneering Women Who Shaped Texas.”

Abbott paid tribute to Texas GOP women as well.

“It was, of course, Republican women who turned Texas red (Republican) in the first place, and it will continue to be Republican women who will ensure that Texas remains as red as the jackets and dresses that you are wearing today,” Abbott said.

He drew sympathetic murmurs from the crowd when he mentioned his San Antonio-native wife, Cecilia, drawing strong applause when he noted “this is where we got married and this past August we celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary.”

Still, no Abbott stump speech is complete without a recitation of accomplishments and policy goals.

“I've collected more than $27 billion in child support for single families in Texas, and I've defended the most vulnerable in our society, unborn children,” he said.

“But it seems like the thing I get the most headlines for are the fights I've waged against an overreaching federal government,” he said, again drawing cheers.

“Already I've filed 29 lawsuits against Barack Obama and his administration,” he said, noting that one of the lawsuits was filed the day Obama signed the health care law. Other suits challenged Environmental Protection Agency regulations and defended the state's new voter identification requirements, he said.

Turning to economic issues, Abbott, who faces competition from former Texas GOP Chairman Tom Pauken and others, said, “I'll work to promote policies that continue to attract jobs, promote opportunity and reward ingenuity.” He vowed to address issues involving roads, water and schools, as well as border security.

“To win this fight, I need the most powerful women in the state of Texas working side by side, fighting that fight with me. I need the women of TFRW,” he said.

The federation will hear from another prominent guest on Saturday. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, making his first San Antonio visit since the federal government shutdown was averted on Wednesday, will deliver remarks at the group's luncheon.